The Long Run takes place outside of our normal continuity of episodes, and features table discussion of an entire work or long selection of a series. In the third episode of this bonus series, we talk about Issues #1-160 of Ultimate Spider-Man (the Peter Parker years).

First published in 2000, the Ultimate Universe was conceived as a launching ground for new, modern interpretations of the classic Marvel Super-Heroes, divested of their continuity baggage and re-imagined for the 21st century. Spider-Man was one of the launch titles for Ultimate Marvel, and returned to Peter Parker’s roots as a nerdy high-schooler once again learning the ropes of being a super-hero while trying (and failing) to find a balance between the burdens of being Spider-Man and Peter Parker’s ordinary life.

USM also features one of the longest continuous runs of a single creative team on a book, with Brian Michael Bendis writing and Mark Bagley penciling. After Bagley’s departure the book was drawn by first by Stuart Immonen, then David LaFuente, and finally Sara Pichelli, who continues to draw with Bendis writing into the Miles Morales era.

In this episode we discuss the entirety of Peter Parker’s story in this series.